Am I the only one not liking this? I’m not planning on buying one, but I’m a car guy, so I’m really into car, and I’m a Toyota person. Why are they making the new Camry hybrid and CVT only? I’ve heard CVT’s aren’t as good as traditional transmissions.
Toyota’s eCVT is rather good. But I agree I wish they would have kept the V6 for one more generation.
Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive is a set of planetary gears that’s now referred to as the eCVT, and comes with all FWD Toyota hybrids except for those with the Hybrid Max turbo. It’s been around for a couple of decades and is completely different from the band type CVT. It’s durable and reliable, going for hundreds of thousands of miles in taxi duty. The electric motor gives you a nice push from a standing start, before the gas engine noisily revs up to where it’s most thermally efficient, typically 2500-3000 rpm with gentle pedal application per a Carplay OBD app.
The 3.5L V6 is doomed as it’s was too dirty for upcoming tailpipe emissions standards. The hybrid version will live on in a couple of PHEV applications - Lexus TX, Century SUV.